lunes, 25 de abril de 2016

A heartwarming story about friendship and acceptance and why it is sometimes okay
to break the rules.

Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about library rules. No running,
and you must be quiet. One day a lion walks into the library, and at first, nobody knows
what to do because there are no rules about lions in the library. But before long,
the lion learns to follow the established rules. He becomes a regular visitor, helping
the children and assisting Miss Merriweather with her daily tasks . . . until one day,
something terrible happens, and the lion helps in the only way he knows how.

QUESTIONS

Where do you think the lion came from? Where do you think he goes every night?

Why did you think he chose to visit a library?

How did the people react to the lion when he first came in? Why? How can you tell?

Did the people change their minds about the lion over time? How do you know?

Why do you think he chose to visit a library?

Who is Mr. McBee? What is his job?

How did Mr. McBee feel about the lion at first? Did he change his mind over time?
Why?

Who is Miss Merriweather? What is her job? What does a librarian do?

How did Miss Merriweather feel about the lion? How do you know?

Why did the lion roar at the end of story hour that first day? What was he trying to
say? Who understood him? How do you know?

Why did Miss Merriweather let the lion return the next day?

What did the lion do when he came back? Why do you think he came back early,
before story hour?

Why was the lion “well suited” for the library? How did he contribute to the library
community?

How do you think the lion felt about Miss Merriweather? The children? Mr. McBee?
The library?

What was the relationship between Mr. McBee and Miss Merriweather?
Did it change? If so, how? When?

martes, 19 de abril de 2016

The Famous Five

The Famous Five are a group of children who have the sort of adventures most kids dream about, in a world where ginger beer flows and ham rolls are a staple diet. Julian, Dick and Anne get together with their cousin George in the first adventure, Five On A Treasure Island.

George is actually a girl who wants so desperately to be a boy she crops her hair and struts about doing boy things. She hates it when people call her by her correct name, Georgina. She has a dog called Timmy—oh yes, and an island. Most kids just have a dog, but George's parents own Kirrin Island and let her run around on it as if it were her play-thing. Her parents are known to Julian, Dick and Anne as Uncle Quentin and Aunt Fanny.

1. Five On a Treasure Island (1942)The very first Famous Five adventure featuring Julian, Dick, Anne, and tomboy George along with her beloved dog, Timmy. There's a shipwreck off Kirrin Island, but where's the treasure? The Five are on the trail, looking for clues... but they're not alone and time is running out.

2. Five Go Adventuring Again (1943)There's a thief at Kirrin Cottage! The Famous Five think they know who it is, but they need to prove it! Where can they find evidence? The discovery of an old map and very unusual hiding place is all they need to get to the bottom of this mystery and uncover the true culprit!

3. Five Run Away Together (1944)Who's been on George's island? What is locked inside the the mysterious trunk hidden on Kirrin Island? The Famous Five think they're on the trail of smugglers—until they hear a child scream...

4. Five Go To Smuggler's Top (1945)Can there still be smugglers at Smuggler's Top? The Famous Five go to stay at the large old house, and discover lots of brilliant hiding places, even underground tunnels! Then they catch people signalling out to sea—who are they?

5. Five Go Off in a Caravan (1946)On their caravan holiday, the gang are thrilled when they stumble across a circus troupe. Unfortunately some of the circus people have more sinister plans than just clowning around.

6. Five On Kirrin Island Again (1947)What is Uncle Quentin up to, all alone on Kirrin Island? He won't let anyone visit, not even George and the rest of the famous Five. But Uncle Quentin isn't really alone on the island—someone is watching his every move.

7. Five Go Off to Camp (1948)Spook trains in the middle of the night! And they seem to vanish into thin air—but where do they go? The Famous Five are on to it. But the discovery of an unusual underground tunnel system, and a train-service, has them puzzled. If they follow the tracks, will they solve the mystery?

8. Five Get Into Trouble (1949)The Famous Five are distraught! Dick has been kidnapped—mistaken for somebody else! The gang finally track him down—to a lonely, abandoned house—but then they too are seized and held captive. How will the intrepid Five get themselves out of this mess?

9. Five Fall Into Adventure (1950)Julian, Dick and Anne are really worried—George and her devoted Timmy have just disappeared! Not only that, somebody has broken in to Kirrin Cottage. Could there be a connection? The Famous Five think so, but it's going to be tough getting to the bottom of this mystery.

10. Five On a Hike Together (1951)Dick is puzzled when he's woken by a light flashing through his window. Is someone trying to send him a coded message? And when the Famous Five hear of an escaped convict in the area, they are on red alert. The police won't help, so the Five have no choice but to solve the mystery alone.

11. Five Have a Wonderful Time (1952)The Famous Five are having a brilliant time—on holiday in horse-drawn caravans—and they've discovered a ruined castle nearby! The castle looked deserted from a distance, but is that a face at the window? Or is it a trick of the light? Just who is hiding in the castle?

12. Five Go Down to the Sea (1953)Who would deliberately lure somebody on to treacherous rocks on the Cornish coast? Somebody is flashing lights from the old tower on stormy nights—and the Famous Five sense danger. But can they solve this mystery safely?

13. Five Go to Mystery Moor (1954)Mystery Moor is aptly named, as the Five discover! There's something dangerous out there, but gang need help to find out what it is. The travellers camped on the moor are unfriendly, so the Famous Five have no other choice but to risk the treacherous mists and follow the trail.

14. Five Have Plenty of Fun (1955)George is not pleased when Berta, a spoilt American girl, turns up at Kirrin Cottage in the middle of the night dressed in disguise! But George hasn't got time to be jealous. Berta is in hiding from kidnappers, and she needs help. The Famous Five must risk danger to help out this stranger.

15. Five On a Secret Trail (1956)Camping again! This time the Five have pitched their tent near an old ruined cottage, which looks as though it's been abandoned for years. When Anne hears strange noises at night the others don't believe her...until they see ghostly lights. Could the cottage be haunted?

16. Five Go to Billycock Hill (1957)Hurrah! It's holiday time, and the Famous Five are spending it at Billycock Hill. Most exciting of all, they've made a new friend—a real pilot! But when he disappears with top secret equipment, the Five are puzzled. Could their new friend be a spy?

17. Five Get Into a Fix (1958)The Famous Five are having lots of fun in the snow! But who is living in the mysterious house near the chalet they're staying in? The caretaker says nobody has lived there for years, but the Five are sure they've seen a terrified, haunted face at one of the windows.

18. Five on Finniston Farm (1960)There is a ruined castle on Finniston Farm, but only the dungeons remain and no one knows where they are! The Famous Five are determined to find them, and whatever else is hidden inside, but someone else wants to find out too. Can the Five get there first?

19. Five Go to Demon's Rocks (1961)The Five have heard the stories about treasure on Demon's Rocks, but they never thought they were really true! When they discover a very old, valuable gold coin, the myth becomes real. Who does the treasure belong to? The gang are determined to find out...but so is someone else.

20. Five Have a Mystery to Solve (1962)Whispering Island is a mysterious place surrounded by a million stories. Is it haunted? The Famous Five are intrigued to find out, but they're scared too. Are they brave enough to get to the bottom of it all?

21. Five Are Together Again (1963)The Famous Five are having fun camping near the home of a famous scientist. But they might have known there'd be a mystery to solve. When the scientist's important research papers go missing, he needs the gang's help to get them back! But how can the Five work out who took them?